Current-motor.



H. ALLES. CURRENT MOTOR. -APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

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H. ALLES.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILBD'SEPT. 22, 1909.

Patented 1101111910.

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H. ALLES.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. z2, 1909.

974,735. Patented Nov. 1,1910.

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HENRY ALLES, OF JOSEPH, IDAHO.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application iled September 22, ,1909. j Serial No. 519,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ALLES, citizen of the United States, residing at Joseph, in the county of Idaho and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Current-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to current motors such as are used in the generation and conversion of power from flowing bodies of water.

It is the object of this invention to provide a current motor that is particularly adapted to be operated by submergence in a running stream or the like, and in which motor means are provided for adjusting the propeller blades at different angles in relation to the direction of the current, thereby regulating the speed and power of the motor.

A further object is to provide a current motor by means of which the variable energy derived from a flowing body of water may be transformed into constant mechanical energy.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end View on the line XX, Fig. 1, showing the propeller blades out of gear. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the propeller blades in gear. Fig. 4 is a detailed view, in perspective, of the propeller adjusting arms. Fig.- 5 is a plan section on the line Y-Y, Fig, 1. Fig. 6 is a` vertical section through the propeller adjusting worm. Fig. 7 is a detail showing a modilied form of the propeller' adjusting arm.

Fig. 8 is a modification of a detail of the invention. Fig. 9 is a detailed view partly in section of the governing device.

In the drawings, A is a driving shaft mounted in suitable bearings on the vertical uprights of the frame Q. This fra-me 2 may be of any desired construction, preferably such as will permit of anchorage on the bottom of a river or stream in such manner that it may be brought to the surface for repair, or for any other purpose. Rigidly mounted on the shaft, A, is a head, 3, having radial studs, 3, on which sleeves, 5, carrying propeller blades, 4, are rotatably mounted. The blades 4 normally stand in a plane parallel with the axis of the shaft A, which latter eX- tends in the direction of the current, as indicated by the arrow Z, Fig. 1. In this position the propeller is out of gear and is not rotated by the current which iiows against the edge of the blades 4.

Rigidly secured to the shaft A at a point near each end of the propeller blades 4 are hubs 6, having spokes 6 which carry the rectangular frames or wheels 7. The wheels 7 have their rims slotted as shown at 7 in Fig. 2, and rotate with the shaft A. Adjacent to and outside of each hub 6 is a loose sleeve 8, having an end flange engaged by a flanged cap 6a on the hub 6; the sleeves being provided with spiral grooves on their inner surfaces which are adapted to meshwith the spiral ribs of a respective worm sleeve 16, which latter is slidable on but turnable with the shaft A.

Radial spokes 9 secured to the sleeves 8 have connecting rods 10 mounted in their outer extremities, which rods 10 connect the spokes 9 with the blocks 11, which slide in slots 7 in the rectangular wheel 7.

' 12 are connecting arms pivotally mounted on the blocks 11 and having their outer ends pivoted in yokes 13 on the edges of the propeller blades 4. Thus by turning the sleeve 8 in opposite directions the blades are twisted or turned sidewise so as to present the desired working surface to the force of the current.

There are preferably two connecting arms 12 to each block 11, one of which extends upward and -connects with the edge of propeller blades near its center, while the other extends downwardly and is attached near the lower edge of the propeller blade.

In constructing small types of these machines the wheel 7 may be dispensed with and the blades 4 connected direct to the spokes 9 by a connecting rod 12 mounted in ball and socket joints, as shown in Fig. 7 Tooperate the sleeves 8 and the blades I employ the following means:

14 is a cross head sliding on brackets 15 secured to the frame 2; the cross head 14 supports loosely the outer ends of sleeves 16, so that the latter are free always to turn with shaft A. The sleeves 16 slide on splines 16 and then bolted together, the flanges 16 on the sleeve 16 projecting into corresponding slots or grooves in the cross heads 14 so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the 'sleeves 16 within the cross heads and to cause the sleeves 16 to move back and forth therewith, but allowing said sleeves toturn freely with the shaft A. The lengthwise sliding movement of the worm sleeves 16 is caused by threaded spindles 18 which pass through threaded holes in webs `19 on the cross heads and have pinions 20 securely affixed thereto. Suitable bearings 21 secured to each side of the frame 2 retain the spindles 18 and pinions 20 in position. These pinions 2O mesh with gears 22 mounted on the frame 2, the gears'22 meshing with beveled pinions 23 which connect through a system of shafting 24 to a gear 25 on the final member of the system of shafting, 24, as shown in Fig. 1. Gear 25 meshes with a rack 26 on a sleeve 32, which is adjustably mounted on a sleeve 33 as later described. A vertically disposed shaft or spindle 3() extends upward through the sleeves 32-33, and has a governor 27 mounted on its upper end in the usual manner, the shaft 30 being driven through the intermeshing pinions 28-29 from the shaft A. The governor 27 has its arms linked to a sleeve 33 loosely mounted on the shaft 30 and on the lower edge of which is formed a flange 32, as shown in Fig.' 9. The sleeve 33, isconnected to the sleeve 33 by means of a strap 37 which is mounted on a flange 37 formed on the sleeve 33, the stra-p 37 resting on the flange 32 in such manner that the governor 27 and sleeve 33 may revolve without rotating the sleeve 33, but will raise or lower the latter, and the sleeve 32 carrying the rack 26, therewith.

Pulleys 31 or their equivalent are provided either on a counter shaft or driving shaft A for transmitting power from the driving shaft.

As a means for manually adjusting the positions ofthe propeller blades 4 so as to start or stop the motor, the following described mechanism is employed.

34 are beveled pinions secured to a shaft- 34 mounted on bearings 35 carried by sleeve 32. Pinions 34 mesh with corresponding pinions on the threaded spindles 36 mounted on the flange 37 on the sleeve 33. The shaft 34 is provided with a hand wheel 38 which on being rotated causes the threaded spindles 36 to travel up or down, as desired, thus raising or lowering the rack 26 so as to operate the pinion 25, and so throw the blades 4 more or less out of line with the shaft A.

An adjustable weighted lever 39 is attached to the flange 37 in such manner as to balance the parts just described and relieve the weight that would otherwise be imposed on the governors 27. Suitable means are provided to prevent the sleeve 32 from rotating on the shaft 30, such as a pin 41, sliding in a fixed slotted member secured to the frame of the governor, not necessary to be here shown.

A pawl and' ratchet 40 are provided on the shaft 34 to prevent its rotation.

In operation the device is submerged and anchored in a moving body of water in such a position that the current will flow through the propeller in the direction of the arrow Z, Fig. 1. Any suitable means may be employed for anchoring the device. The propeller blades 4 will normally stand in their inoperative position, or out of gear, as shown in F ig. 1, when the machine is not running.

The propeller is thrown into gear by rotating the'hand wheel 38 which acts upon the beveled gears 34 and threaded stems 36 to raise the rack 26, thereby rotating the pinion 25 and shaft 24. This causes the gears 22 to be rotated through pinions 23. As the gears 22 revolve and actuate the pinions 20, the threaded spindles 18 at each end of the motor are rotated in such manneras to move the members 14 toward each other on their brackets 15, thus causing the worm sleeves 16 to enter the respective grooved sleeves 8. The spiral ribs 17 act oppositely on the worm plugs 16 to operate the sleeves 8 in such manner that the sliding blocks 11 are drawn forward by the spokes 9 in the direction of the arrow W, in Fig. 2,`to cause the wings or blades 4 to turn on their swivel mountings 5 so as to present an inclined working surface against the flow of water, see Fig. 3; the water pressure causing the blades to rotate and drive the shaft A. AThe speed of the propeller blades 4 is regulated through the governor 27.

W hen the propeller tends to reach an abnormal speed the governor acts to return the blades 4 more or less toward their normal parallel position through the mechanism previously described, thereby decreasing the amount of propeller surface exposed to the action of 'thewater current. 'This naturally diminishes the speed o-f the propeller and insures a constant and uniform motion.

Any suitable means may be employed for delivering lubricant to the bearings of the machine when submerged, but it is not necessary to illustrate any method herein.

. 1f desired the device can be arranged in a vertical position to be acted upon by a falling body of water, and may be boxed in a flume or the like, where advantageous. The machine is also applicable to use as an air motor, the propellers being adapted to be -rotated by meanscf a current ofair as well as by a current of water.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a slight modication of the connections for operating the vanes to cause them to stand more or less diagonal to the main shaft. In this case the spokes 9 are fixed to a hub which turns free on the shaft, and the sleeve 8 is bolted to the hub, the hub of the spokes being turnably connected with the hub 6 by the flange collar 6". The worm sleeve 16 is slidable lengthwise of shaft A on a spline 16.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a motor, the combination of a shaft, blades pivoted thereon to turn into a position parallel with the shaft or diagonally of the shaft, and means for turning the blades into said positions, said means including al member on the shaft and having amovement relative to and concentric with the shaft, and connections between said member and the blades.

2. The combination with a shaft, of a series of blades circumferentially arranged thereon, and pivotally supported at their middles on the shaft, and means connected with the ends of the blades to vary their inclination with respect to the shaft, said means including a member operating crosswise of the shaft and concentric therewith, and outside of the edges of the blades, and mea-ns connecting` `said member with the blades.

3. The combination with a shaft, of a series of blades circumferentially arranged thereon and extending in the length of the shaft, and means for varying their inclination lengthwise of the shaft, said means including a sleeve on the shaft adjacent the side edges of the blades and turnable around the shaft, and means connecting said sleeve with the blades.

4t. The combination with a shaft, of a series of blades circumferentially arranged thereon and extending in the length of the shaft, and means for Varying their inclination lengthwise of the shaft, said last named means including a worm sleeve on the shaft.

5. rIhe combination of a shaft, of a series of blades pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to extend lengthwise of the shaft, means connected with the ends of the blades to vary their inclination with respect to the shaft, said means including oppositely turnable sleeves on the shaft, and means connecting said sleeves with opposite edges of the blades.

6. rI`he combination of a shaft, of a series of blades pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to extend lengthwise of the shaft, means connected with the ends of the blades to vary their inclination with respect to the shaft, said last named means including a Aworm sleeve on the shaft, and means for re- .connected with means at their ends to vary the inclination of the blades with respect to the shaft, said means including oppositely acting worm sleeves on the shaft at the ends of the blade.

8. In a motor, the combination of a shaft, blades pivoted thereon to turn more or less sidewise of the shaft, hub members on the shaft carrying grooved frames, blocks slidable in the grooves of said frames and connected with the blades, and means for shifting the blocks to vary the inclination of the blades with respect to the shaft.

9. In a motor, the combination of a shaft, blades pivoted thereon to turn more or less sidewise of the shaft, hub members on the shaft carrying grooved frames, blocks slidable in the grooves of said frames and connected with the blades, and means for shifting the blocks to vary the inclination of the blades with respect to the shaft., said last named means including a loose sleeve on the shaft connected with said blocks and means for turning the sleeve independent of the motion of the shaft.

10. In a motor, the combination of a shaft, blades pivoted thereon t0 turn more or less sidewise of the shaft, hub members on the shaft carrying grooved frames, blocks slidable in the grooves of said frames and connected with the blades, means for shifting the blocks to vary the inclination of the blades with respect to the shaft, said last named means including an internally threaded loose sleeve on the shaft, connections between the sleeve and said blocks, and a worm member slidable on and turnable with the shaft and engageable with said sleeve.

1l. In a motor, the combination of a shaft, blades pivoted thereon to turn more or less sidewise of the shaft, hub members on the shaft carrying grooved frames, blocks slidable in the grooves of said frames and connected with the blades, means for shifting the blocks to vary the inclination of the blades with respect to the shaft, said last named means including an internally threaded loose sleeve on thel shaft, connections between the sleeve and said blocks, a worm member slidable on and turnable with the shaft and engageable with said sleeve, and screw members connected with said worm member to reciprocate the latter.

12. In a motor, the combination of a shaft, blades pivoted thereon to turn more or less sidewise of the shaft, hub members on the shaft carrying grooved frames, blocks slidable in the grooves of said frames, and connected with the blades, means for shifting the blocks to vary the inclination of the blades with respect to the shaft, said last vnamed means including an internally threadmy hand in `the presence of two subscribing ed loose sleeve on the shaft, connections bewitnesses. tween the sleeve and said blocks, a worm member slidable on and turnable with the HENRY ALLES' shaft and engageable with said sleeve, and Witnesses: means for reciprocating said worm member. CHARLES EDELMAN,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set C. C. COOK. 

